Steam-blocking apparatus

ABSTRACT

A steam-blocking apparatus includes: a rolling mill configured to roll a material; a transfer roller disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill and configured to transfer the material from the rolling mill; a descaler disposed above the transfer roller and configured to spray wash water toward the transfer roller; a width-measuring part disposed at a rear side of the descaler and configured to measure the width of the material; and a shield disposed between the descaler and the width-measuring part and configured to prevent steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water, from being introduced into the width-measuring part.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of International ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2011/010011 filed on Dec. 22, 2011, which claims priority toKorean Application No. 10-2011-0039422 filed Apr. 27, 2011 and KoreanApplication No. 10-2011-0051144 filed May 30, 2011, which applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a steam-blocking apparatus, and moreparticularly, to a steam-blocking apparatus which is capable of blockingsteam, generated from evaporation of wash water sprayed from a descaler,from being introduced into a width-measuring part, thereby improvingprecision when the width of a material is measured.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a steel manufacturing process includes an iron-makingprocess of manufacturing liquid steel, a steel-making process ofremoving impurities from the liquid steel, a continuous casting processof casting the liquid steel into solid steel, and a rolling process ofrolling the solid steel into a steel sheet or wire.

The rolling process refers to a process of passing an intermediatematerial such as slab or bloom, manufactured during the continuouscasting process, between a plurality of rotating rollers and applying acontinuous force to enlarge or thin the intermediate material. Theroller process is roughly divided into a hot rolling process and a coldrolling process.

The above-described configuration is a related art for helping anunderstanding of the present invention, and does not mean a related artwhich is widely known in the technical field to which the presentinvention pertains.

SUMMARY

The present invention is conceived to solve such problems of the relatedart, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a steam-blockingapparatus which is capable of blocking steam, generated from evaporationof wash water sprayed from a descaler, from being introduced into awidth-measuring part, thereby improving precision when the width of amaterial is measured.

According to an aspect of the invention, a steam-blocking apparatusincludes: a rolling mill configured to roll a material; a transferroller disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill and configured totransfer the material from the rolling mill; a descaler disposed abovethe transfer roller and configured to spray wash water toward thetransfer roller; a width-measuring part disposed at a rear side of thedescaler and configured to measure the width of the material; and ashield disposed between the descaler and the width-measuring part andconfigured to prevent steam, generated from evaporation of the washwater, from being introduced into the width-measuring part.

The shield may include: a body fixed to an external device; and arotating part rotatably coupled to the body.

The shield may further include a fluid sprayer disposed at a bottom ofthe rotating part and configured to spray a fluid toward the transferroller.

The fluid sprayer may include: a connection pipe that communicates withan external supply source to supply a fluid; a diverging pipe thatdiverges from the connection pipe; and a nozzle disposed at thediverging portion to spray the fluid toward the transfer roller.

The steam-blocking apparatus further include: an elevating part coupledto the shield and configured to lift or lower the shield; and acontroller configured to operate the elevating part.

The elevating part may include: a driving motor fixed to an externaldevice; a rotating gear connected to the driving motor and rotated usingpower provided from the driving motor; a rack gear engaged with therotating gear and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotatinggear; and a connection plate having one side coupled to the rack gearand the other side coupled to the shield.

The steam-blocking apparatus may further include a displacement sensorinstalled on the connection plate and configured to sense a distancefrom the material, wherein the controller is configured to operate thedriving motor based on the distance from the material, measured by thedisplacement sensor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a steam-blockingapparatus includes: a rolling mill configured to roll a material; atransfer roller disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill andconfigured to transfer the material from the rolling mill; a descalerdisposed above the transfer roller and configured to spray wash watertoward the transfer roller; a width-measuring part disposed at a rearside of the descaler and configured to measure the width of thematerial; and a shield disposed between the descaler and thewidth-measuring part, and configured to suction air in thewidth-measuring part and spray the suctioned air toward the transferroller to block steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water,from being introduced into the width-measuring part.

The shield may include: a body fixed to an external device; and anair-curtain rotatably coupled to a bottom of the body, configured tosuction the air in the width-measuring part and spray the suctioned airtoward the transfer roller.

The air-curtain may include: a case having an inlet formed at a sidefacing the width-measuring part and an outlet formed at a side facingthe transfer roller; a fan rotatably installed within the case; and afan motor disposed within the case and configured to rotate the fan.

The steam-blocking apparatus may further include: an elevating partcoupled to the shield and configured to lift or lower the shield; and acontroller configured to operate the elevating part.

The elevating part may include: a driving motor fixed to an externaldevice; a rotating gear connected to the driving motor and rotated usingpower provided from the driving motor; a rack gear engaged with therotating gear and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotatinggear; and a connection plate having one side coupled to the rack gearand the other side coupled to the shield.

The steam-blocking apparatus may further include a displacement sensorinstalled on the connection plate and configured to sense a distancefrom the material, wherein the controller is configured to operate thedriving motor based on the distance from the material, measured by thedisplacement sensor.

The shield may include: a body fixed to the connection plate; and anair-curtain rotatably coupled to a bottom of the body and configured tosuction air in the width-measuring part and spray the suctioned airtoward the transfer roller.

According to the embodiments of the invention, since the steam-blockingapparatus blocks steam, generated from the evaporation of wash watersprayed from the descaler, from being introduced into thewidth-measuring part, the width of the material may be preciselymeasured.

Furthermore, since the rotating part is rotatably coupled to the body,impact may be reduced when the material collides with the rotating part.

Furthermore, since the height of the shield may be controlled, thecollision between the material and the shield may be prevented.Furthermore, since the shield may be positioned close to the material,the introduction of steam through a gap between the shield and thematerial may be minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shield of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid sprayer of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the fluid sprayer of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a rotatingpart of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention is rotated to the right;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the rotatingpart of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention is rotated to the left;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shield of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an air-curtain of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, whena distal end of a material passes through a shield;

FIG. 12 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, whena central portion of the material passes through the shield;

FIG. 13 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, whena tail end of the material passes through the shield;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which theair-curtain of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention is rotated to the right;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which theair-curtain of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention is rotated to the left;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a shield of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid sprayer of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the fluid sprayer of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, when adistal end of a material passes through the shield;

FIG. 23 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, when acentral portion of the material passes through the shield;

FIG. 24 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, when atail end of the material passes through the shield;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fluidsprayer of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the thirdembodiment of the present invention is rotated to the right;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fluidsprayer of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the thirdembodiment of the present invention is rotated to the left; and

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that thedrawings are not to precise scale and may be exaggerated in thickness oflines or sizes of components for descriptive convenience and clarityonly. Furthermore, the terms as used herein are defined by takingfunctions of the invention into account and can be changed according tothe custom or intention of users or operators. Therefore, definition ofthe terms should be made according to the overall disclosures set forthherein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is aperspective view of a shield of the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 isa cross-sectional view of a fluid sprayer of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the fluid sprayer of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state inwhich a rotating part of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance withthe first embodiment of the present invention is rotated to the right.FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the rotatingpart of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention is rotated to the left.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is aperspective view of a shield of the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9is a perspective view of an air-curtain of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.10 is a side view of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 illustrates anoperation state of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention, when a distal end of amaterial passes through a shield. FIG. 12 illustrates an operation stateof the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the second embodimentof the present invention, when a central portion of the material passesthrough the shield. FIG. 13 illustrates an operation state of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention, when a tail end of the material passes through theshield. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which theair-curtain of the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention is rotated to the right. FIG.15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the air-curtainof the steam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the second embodimentof the present invention is rotated to the left. FIG. 16 is a blockdiagram illustrating a control flow of the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 isa perspective view of a shield of the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19is a cross-sectional view of a fluid sprayer of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the fluid sprayer of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 21 is a side view of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 22 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention, when a distal end of a material passes through the shield.FIG. 23 illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatusin accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, when acentral portion of the material passes through the shield. FIG. 24illustrates an operation state of the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, when atail end of the material passes through the shield. FIG. 25 is aperspective view illustrating a state in which the fluid sprayer of thesteam-blocking apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention is rotated to the right. FIG. 26 is a perspective viewillustrating a state in which the fluid sprayer of the steam-blockingapparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention is rotated to the left. FIG. 27 is a block diagramillustrating a control flow of the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention includes a rollingmill 10, a transfer roller 20, a descaler 30, a width-measuring part 40,and a shield 50.

The rolling mill 10 rolls a material S to a target thickness and widthsuch that the material S may be easily finish-rolled during a finishrolling process. The rolling mill 10 includes an upper work rolldisposed in the upper side and a lower work roll disposed in the lowerside. Reference numerals of the upper and lower work rolls are omitted.

The material S is rolled by the upper work roll and the lower work roll,while transferred between the upper and lower work rolls. The materialS, which is rolled by the rolling mill 10 and then transferred, istransferred to a subsequent process through a transfer roller 20.

The transfer roller 20 is disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill10. The transfer roller 20 includes transfer rolls with no referencenumeral and a roll support (not illustrated). The transfer rollstransfer the material S to a subsequent process, and the roll supportrotatably supports both ends of the transfer rolls.

The descaler 30 is disposed above the transfer roller 20. The descaler30 sprays high-pressure wash water toward the transfer roller 20, andremoves scale formed on the material S transferred by the transferroller 20.

The descaler 30 is disposed at the front side of the width-measuringpart 40, based on FIG. 1. Thus, the scale formed on the surface of thematerial S is removed through the descaler 30, before the material Spasses through the width-measuring part 40. Therefore, it is possible toprevent the reduction in measurement precision of the width-measuringpart 40, which may be caused by the scale formed on the material S.

The width-measuring part 40 is disposed above the transfer roller 20.The width-measuring part 40 measures the width of the material Stransferred by the transfer roller 20. The width-measuring part 40 mayinclude a laser displacement sensor.

The laser displacement sensor is disposed above the transfer roller 20forming a transfer path of the material S, and irradiates laser towardthe transfer roller 20. When the material S passes through the point atwhich laser is irradiated, the laser reflected from the surface of thematerial S is received by the laser displacement sensor. The laserdisplacement sensor measures the width of the material S by the receivedlaser.

When having measured the width of the material S, the width-measuringpart 40 transmits the measured width to a controller (not illustrated).The controller controls a subsequent rolling process, based on thereceived width information of the material S.

The shield 50 is disposed above the transfer roller 20. The shield 50 isdisposed between the descaler 30 and the width-measuring part 40, andprevents steam, which may reduce the measurement precision of thewidth-measuring part 40, from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 40.

The wash water sprayed from the descaler 30 comes in contact with thehigh-temperature material S, and then evaporates into steam. The shield50 prevents the steam from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 40.

The shield 50 includes a body 51, a rotating part 52, and a fluidsprayer 54.

The body 51 is fixed to an external device F. The external device F mayinclude a rolling frame or roller table which forms the frame of therolling mill 10. In addition, the external device F may include anystructures as long as the body 51 can be disposed above the transferroller 20.

The rotating part 52 is rotatably hinge-coupled to the body 51. The topof the rotating part 52 is hinge-coupled to the bottom of the body 51through a hinge part 53, based on FIG. 2. Thus, the rotating part 52 mayfreely rotate with respect to the body 1.

The material S may bounce upward while the material S is transferred ina forward or backward direction. In this case, when the material Scollides with the rotating part 52, impact therebetween may be reducedbecause the rotating part 52 is rotatably coupled to the body 51.

FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which the rotating part 52 collides withthe material S and rotates to the right, while the material S istransferred in the forward direction. FIG. 6 illustrates a state inwhich the rotating part 52 collides with the material S and rotates tothe left, while the material S is transferred in the backward direction.As such, when the rotating part 52 collides with the material S, therotating part 52 rotates in the transfer direction of the material S.Thus, it is possible to minimize the impact caused by the collision.

The fluid sprayer 54 is disposed at the bottom of the rotating part 52.The fluid sprayer 54 sprays a high-pressure fluid toward the transferroller 20, that is, the material S transferred by the transfer roller20, thereby preventing steam from being introduced into thewidth-measuring part 40 through a gap between the fluid sprayer 54 andthe transfer roller 20. In the present embodiment, the fluid is air.Since the fluid sprayed from the fluid sprayer 54 may prevent steam frombeing introduced into the width-measuring part 40, the width of thematerial S may be precisely measured by the width-measuring part 40.

The fluid sprayer 54 includes a connection pipe 55, a diverging pipe 56,a nozzle 57, and a housing 58. The connection pipe 55 is connected to anexternal supply source and guides a fluid received from the externalsupply source to the diverging pipe 56.

The diverging pipe 56 includes a plurality of pipes diverging from theconnection pipe 55, and the plurality of diverging pipes 56 are arrangedin a line in the widthwise direction of the material S. Thus, thediverging pipes 56 block a wide range of the path through which steam isintroduced into the width-measuring pipe 40.

The nozzle 57 is disposed at one end of the diverging pipe 56 and spraysa high-pressure fluid toward the transfer roller 20, that is, thematerial S transferred by the transfer roller 20. Thus, an air curtainis formed between the fluid sprayer 54 and the material S, therebyblocking steam from being introduced into the width-measuring part 40.

The housing 58 covers the connection pipe 55, the diverging pipes 56,and the nozzles 57. Thus, the housing 58 prevents the damage of theconnection pipe 55, the diverging pipes 56, and the nozzles 57, whichmay occur when the connection pipe 55, the diverging pipes 56, and thenozzles 57 collide with the material S. Furthermore, the housing 58suppresses the degradation and damage of the connection pipe 55, thediverging pipes 56, and the nozzles 57, which may occur under ahigh-pressure environment.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, a steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention includes a rollingmill 110, a transfer roller 120, a descaler 130, a width-measuring part140, a shield 150, and a controller 180.

The rolling mill 110 rolls a material S to a target thickness and widthsuch that the material S may be easily finished-rolled during a finishrolling process. The rolling mill 110 includes an upper work rolldisposed in the upper side and a lower work roll disposed in the lowerside. Reference numerals of the upper and lower work rolls are omitted.

The material S is rolled by the upper work roll and the lower work roll,while transferred between the upper and lower work roll. The material S,which is rolled by the rolling mill 110 and then transferred, istransferred to a subsequent process by a transfer roller 120.

The transfer roller 120 is disposed at the rear side of the rolling mill110. The transfer roller 120 includes transfer rollers with no referencenumeral and a roller support (not illustrated). The transfer rollerstransfer the material S to a subsequent process, and the roller supportrotatably supports both ends of the transfer rollers.

The descaler 130 is disposed above the transfer roller 120. The descaler130 sprays high-pressure wash water toward the transfer roller 120, andremoves scale formed on the material S transferred by the transferroller 120.

The descaler 130 is disposed at the front side of the width-measuringpart 140, based on FIG. 7. Thus, the scale formed on the surface of thematerial S is removed by the descaler 130, before the material S passesthrough the width-measuring part 140. Therefore, it is possible toprevent the reduction in measurement precision of the width-measuringpart 140, which may be caused by the scale formed on the material S.

The width-measuring part 140 is disposed above the transfer roller 120.The width-measuring part 140 measures the width of the material Stransferred by the transfer roller 120. The width-measuring part 140 mayinclude a laser displacement sensor.

The laser displacement sensor is disposed above the transfer roller 120forming a transfer path of the material S, and irradiates laser towardthe transfer roller 120. When the material S passes through a point atwhich laser is irradiated, the laser reflected from the surface of thematerial S is received by the laser displacement sensor. The laserdisplacement sensor measures the width of the material S by the receivedlaser.

When having measured the width of the material S, the width-measuringpart 140 transmits the measured width to a controller 180. Thecontroller 180 controls a subsequent rolling process, based on thereceived width information of the material S.

The shield 150 is disposed above the transfer roller 120. The shield 150is disposed between the descaler 130 and the width-measuring part 140,and prevents steam, which may reduce the measurement precision of thewidth-measuring part 140, from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 140.

The wash water sprayed from the descaler 130 comes in contact with thehigh-temperature material S, and then evaporates into steam. The shield150 prevents the steam from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 140.

The shield 150 includes a body 151 and an air-curtain 152.

The body 151 is fixed to an external device F or elevating part 160. Theexternal device F may include a rolling frame or roller table formingthe frame of the rolling mill 110. In addition, the external device Fmay include any structures as long as the body 151 can be disposed abovethe transfer roller 120. When the body 151 is fixed to the externaldevice F, the shield 150 is not moved in a vertical direction, and whenthe body 151 is coupled to the elevating part 160, the shield 150 may bemoved in the vertical direction.

The air-curtain 152 is rotatably hinge-coupled to the body 151. The topof the air-curtain 152 is hinge-coupled to the bottom of the body 151through the hinge part 153, based on FIG. 8. Thus, the air-curtain 152may freely rotate with respect to the body 151.

The material S may bounce upward while the material S is transferred ina forward or backward direction. In this case, when the material Scollides with the air-curtain 152, impact therebetween may be reducedbecause the air-curtain 152 is rotatably coupled to the body 151.

FIG. 14 illustrates a state in which the air-curtain 152 collides withthe material S and rotates to the right, while the material S istransferred in the forward direction. FIG. 15 illustrates a state inwhich the air-curtain 152 collides with the material S and rotates tothe left, while the material S is transferred in the backward direction.As such, when the air-curtain 152 collides with the material S, theair-curtain 152 rotates in the transfer direction of the material S.Thus, it is possible to minimize the impact caused by the collision.

The air-curtain 152 sprays air toward the transfer roller 120, that is,the material S transferred by the transfer roller 120, thereby blockingsteam from being introduced to the width-measuring part 140 through agap between the air-curtain 152 and the material S. Since the airsprayed from the air-curtain 152 may block steam from being introducedinto the width-measuring part 140, it is possible to precisely measurethe width of the material S by the width-measuring part 140.

The air-curtain 152 sucks air in the width-measuring part 140 and spraysthe sucked air toward to the transfer roller 120. Thus, since air doesnot need to be separately supplied from outside, it is possible tosimplify the equipment and reduce the cost.

The air-curtain 152 includes a case 155, a fan 156, and a fan motor 157.The case 155 is hinge-coupled to the body 151, and forms the exterior ofthe air-curtain 152. The case 155 has an inlet 155 a formed at a sidefacing the width-measuring part 140 and an outlet 155 b formed at a sidefacing the transfer roller 120.

The fan 156 is rotatably installed within the case 155, and the fanmotor 157 is disposed within the case 155 and generates power to rotatethe fan 156. When the fan motor 157 is driven according to a commandfrom the controller 180, the fan 156 is rotated. When the fan 156 isrotated, the air in the width-measuring part 140 is sucked into the case155 through the inlet 155 a, and then discharged toward the transferroller 120 through the outlet 155 b.

Since an air curtain is formed between the air-curtain 152 and thematerial S through the air discharged through the outlet 155 b, the aircurtain prevents steam from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 140 through a gap between the air-curtain 152 and the material S.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13 and 16, the steam-blocking apparatus inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention mayfurther include an elevating part 160 and a displacement sensor 170.

The elevating part 160 is coupled to the shield 150 so as to lift orlower the shield 150. The elevating part 160 includes a driving motor161, a rotating gear 162, a rack gear 163, and a connection plate 164.In the case of the steam-blocking apparatus which additionally includesthe elevating part 160, the body 151 is coupled to the connection plate164, instead of the external device F.

The driving motor 161 generates power and is fixed to the externaldevice F. The external device F may include a rolling frame or rollertable forming the frame of the rolling mill 110. In addition, theexternal device F may include any devices as long as the devices can fixthe driving motor 161.

The rotating gear 162 is connected to the driving motor 161, and rotatedusing power received from the driving motor 161, when the driving motor161 is driven. The rack gear 163 is engaged with the rotating gear 162,and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotating gear 162. One sideof the connection plate 164 is coupled to the rack gear 163, and theother side of the connection plate 164 is coupled to the body 151 of theshield 150. Thus, when the rack gear 163 is lifted or lowered by theoperation of the driving motor 161, the shield 150 is lifted or loweredin the same direction as the rack gear 163. That is, the shield 150 maybe lifted or lowered by the driving motor 161 of which the operation iscontrolled by the controller 180.

The displacement sensor 170 is installed on the connection plate 164,and senses a distance from the material S. The displacement sensor 170is disposed closer to the rolling mill 110 than the shield 150 such thatthe material S first passes through the bottom of the displacementsensor 170 before the bottom of the shield 150.

The displacement sensor 170 transmits the measured distance from thematerial S to the controller 180, and the controller 180 controls theoperation of the driving motor 161 based on the measured distance. Inorder to block steam from being introduced through a gap between theshield 150 and the material S, the air-curtain 152 must be operated, andthe gap between the shield 150 and the material S must be minimized. Inthis case, when the shield 150 is positioned close to the material S, anupward bending of the material S may collide with the shield 150. Then,the shield 150 may be damaged. In order to prevent the damage of theshield 150, the displacement sensor 170 informs the controller 180 ofthe distance from the material S, when the distance from the material Sis measured to be smaller than a preset reference value. Then, thecontroller 180 controls the driving motor 161 to lift the shield 150(refer to FIGS. 11 and 13). Furthermore, when the distance from thematerial S is measured to be larger than the preset reference value, thedisplacement sensor 170 informs the controller 180 of the distance fromthe material S. Then, the controller 180 controls the driving motor 161to lower the shield 150 (refer to FIG. 12). At this time, the lifting ofthe shield 150 is performed while the rotating gear 162 is rotated inone direction by the driving motor 16 and the rack gear 163 engaged withthe rotating gear 162 is moved upward. That is, the shield 150 is liftedby the upward movement of the rack gear 163. On the other hand, thelowering of the shield 150 is performed while the rotating gear 162 isrotated in the other direction by the driving motor 161 and the rackgear 163 engaged with the rotating gear 162 is moved downward. That is,the shield 150 is lowered by the downward movement of the rack gear 163.

Referring to FIGS. 17 to 21, a steam-blocking apparatus in accordancewith a third embodiment of the present invention includes a rolling mill210, a transfer roller 220, a descaler 230, a width-measuring part 240,a shield 250, an elevating part 260, a displacement sensor 270, and acontroller 280.

The rolling mill 210 rolls a material S to a target thickness and widthsuch that the material S may be easily finished-rolled during a finishrolling process. The rolling mill 210 includes an upper work rolldisposed in the upper side and a lower work roll disposed in the lowerside. Reference numerals of the upper and lower work rolls are omitted.

The material S is rolled by the upper work roll and the lower work roll,while transferred between the upper and lower work rolls. The materialS, which is rolled by the rolling mill 210 and then transferred, istransferred to a subsequent process by a transfer roller 220.

The transfer roller 220 is disposed at the rear side of the rolling mill210. The transfer roller 220 includes transfer rollers with no referencenumeral and a roller support (not illustrated). The transfer rollerstransfer the material S to a subsequent process, and the roller supportrotatably supports both ends of the transfer rollers.

The descaler 230 is disposed above the transfer roller 220. The descaler230 sprays high-pressure wash water toward the transfer roller 220, andremoves scale formed on the material S transferred by the transferroller 220.

The descaler 230 is disposed at the front side of the width-measuringpart 240, based on FIG. 17. Thus, the scale formed on the surface of thematerial S is removed by the descaler 230, before the material S passesthrough the width-measuring part 240. Therefore, it is possible toprevent the reduction in measurement precision of the width-measuringpart 240, which may be caused by the scale formed on the material S.

The width-measuring part 240 is disposed above the transfer roller 220.The width-measuring part 240 measures the width of the material Stransferred by the transfer roller 220. The width-measuring part 240 mayinclude a laser displacement sensor.

The laser displacement sensor is disposed above the transfer roller 220forming a transfer path of the material S, and irradiates laser towardthe transfer roller 220. When the material S passes through a point atwhich laser is irradiated, the laser reflected from the surface of thematerial S is received by the laser displacement sensor. The laserdisplacement sensor measures the width of the material S by the receivedlaser.

When having measured the width of the material S, the width-measuringpart 240 transmits the measured width to a controller 280. Thecontroller 280 controls a subsequent rolling process, based on thereceived width information of the material S.

The shield 250 is disposed above the transfer roller 220. The shield 250is disposed between the descaler 230 and the width-measuring part 240,and prevents steam, which may reduce the measurement precision of thewidth-measuring part 240, from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 240.

The wash water sprayed from the descaler 230 comes in contact with thehigh-temperature material S, and then evaporates into steam. The shield250 prevents the steam from being introduced into the width-measuringpart 240.

The shield 250 includes a body 251 and a fluid sprayer 252. The body 251is coupled to the elevating part 260. The fluid sprayer 252 is rotatablyhinge-coupled to the body 251. The top of the fluid sprayer 252 ishinge-coupled to the bottom of the body 251 through a hinge part 253,based on FIG. 18. Thus, the fluid sprayer 252 may freely rotate withrespect to the body 251.

The material S may bounce upward while the material S is transferred ina forward or backward direction. In this case, when the material Scollides with the fluid sprayer 252, impact therebetween may be reducedbecause the fluid sprayer 252 is rotatably coupled to the body 251.

FIG. 25 illustrates a state in which the fluid sprayer 252 collides withthe material S and rotates to the right, while the material S istransferred in the forward direction. FIG. 26 illustrates a state inwhich the fluid sprayer 252 collides with the material S and rotates tothe left, while the material S is transferred in the backward direction.As such, when the fluid sprayer 252 collides with the material S, thefluid sprayer 252 rotates in the transfer direction of the material S.Thus, it is possible to minimize the impact caused by the collision.

The fluid sprayer 252 sprays a high-pressure fluid toward the transferroller 220, that is, the material S transferred by the transfer roller220, thereby blocking steam from being introduced to the width-measuringpart 240 through a gap between the fluid sprayer 252 and the transferroller 220. In the present embodiment, the fluid is air. Since the fluidsprayed from the fluid sprayer 252 may block steam from being introducedinto the width-measuring part 240, it is possible to precisely measurethe width of the material S by the width-measuring part 240.

The fluid sprayer 252 includes a connection pipe 255, a diverging pipe256, a nozzle 257, and a housing 258. The connection pipe 255 isconnected to an external supply source, and guides a fluid received fromthe external supply source to the diverging pipe 256.

The diverging pipe 256 includes a plurality of pipes diverging from theconnection pipe 255, and the plurality of diverging pipes 256 arearranged in a line in the widthwise direction of the material S. Thus,the diverging pipes 256 block a wide range of the path through which thesteam is introduced into the width-measuring pipe 240.

The nozzle 257 is disposed at one end of the diverging pipe 256 andsprays a high-pressure fluid toward the transfer roller 220, orspecifically, the material S transferred by the transfer roller 20.Thus, an air curtain is formed between the fluid sprayer 252 and thematerial S, thereby blocking steam from being introduced into thewidth-measuring part 240.

The housing 258 covers the connection pipe 255, the diverging pipes 256,and the nozzles 257. Thus, the housing 258 prevents the damage of theconnection pipe 255, the diverging pipes 256, and the nozzles 257, whichmay occur when the connection pipe 255, the diverging pipes 256, and thenozzles 257 collide with the material S. Furthermore, the housing 268suppresses the degradation and damage of the connection pipe 255, thediverging pipe 256, and the nozzle 257, which may occur under ahigh-pressure environment.

The elevating part 260 is coupled to the shield 250 so as to lift orlower the shield 250. The elevating part 260 includes a driving motor261, a rotating gear 262, a rack gear 263, and a connection plate 264.

The driving motor 261 generates power and is fixed to the externaldevice F. The external device F may include a rolling frame or rollertable forming the frame of the rolling mill 210. In addition, theexternal device F may include any devices as long as the devices can fixthe driving motor 261.

The rotating gear 262 is connected to the driving motor 261, and rotatedusing power received from the driving motor 261, when the driving motor261 is driven. The rack gear 263 is engaged with the rotating gear 262,and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotating gear 262. One sideof the connection plate 264 is coupled to the rack gear 263, and theother side of the connection plate 264 is coupled to the body 251 of theshield 250. Thus, when the rack gear 263 is lifted or lowered by theoperation of the driving motor 261, the shield 250 is lifted or loweredin the same direction as the rack gear 263. That is, the shield 250 maybe lifted or lowered by the driving motor 261 of which the operation iscontrolled using the controller 280.

Referring to FIGS. 21 to 24 and 27, the displacement sensor 270 isinstalled on the connection plate 264, and senses a distance from thematerial S. The displacement sensor 270 is disposed closer to therolling mill 210 than the shield 250 such that the material S passesthrough the bottom of the displacement sensor 270 before the bottom ofthe shield 250.

The displacement sensor 270 transmits the measured distance from thematerial S to the controller 280, and the controller 280 controls theoperation of the driving motor 261 based on the measured distance. Inorder to block steam from being introduced through a gap between theshield 250 and the material S, the gap between the shield 250 and thematerial S may be minimized. In this case, when the shield 250 ispositioned close to the material S, an upward bending of the material Smay collide with the shield 250. Then, the shield 250 may be damaged. Inorder to prevent the damage of the shield 250, the displacement sensor270 informs the controller 280 of the distance from the material S, whenthe distance from the material S is measured to be smaller than a presetreference value. Then, the controller 280 controls the driving motor 261to lift the shield 250 (refer to FIGS. 22 and 24). Furthermore, when thedistance from the material S is measured to be larger than the presetreference value, the displacement sensor 270 informs the controller 280of the distance from the material S. Then, the controller 280 controlsthe driving motor 261 to lower the shield 250 (refer to FIG. 23). Atthis time, the lifting of the shield 250 is performed while the rotatinggear 262 is rotated in one direction by the driving motor 261 and therack gear 263 engaged with the rotating gear 262 is moved upward. Thatis, the shield 250 is lifted through the upward movement of the rackgear 263. On the other hand, the lowering of the shield 250 is performedwhile the rotating gear 262 is rotated in the other direction by thedriving motor 261 and the rack gear 263 engaged with the rotating gear262 is moved downward. That is, the shield 250 is lowered through thedownward movement of the rack gear 263.

Although some embodiments have been provided to illustrate the inventionin conjunction with the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilledin the art that the embodiments are given by way of illustration only,and that various modifications and equivalent embodiments can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scopeof the invention should be limited only by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A steam-blocking apparatus comprising: a rollingmill configured to roll a material; a transfer roller disposed at a rearside of the rolling mill and configured to transfer the material fromthe rolling mill; a descaler disposed above the transfer roller andconfigured to spray wash water toward the transfer roller; awidth-measuring part disposed at a rear side of the descaler andconfigured to measure the width of the material; and a shield disposedbetween the descaler and the width-measuring part and configured toprevent steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water, from beingintroduced into the width-measuring part.
 2. The steam-blockingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield includes: a body fixed to anexternal device; and a rotating part rotatably coupled to the body. 3.The steam-blocking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shield furtherincludes: a fluid sprayer disposed at a bottom of the rotating part andconfigured to spray a fluid toward the transfer roller.
 4. Thesteam-blocking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid sprayer includes:a connection pipe that communicates with an external supply source tosupply a fluid; a diverging pipe that diverges from the connection pipe;and a nozzle disposed at the diverging portion to spray the fluid towardthe transfer roller.
 5. The steam-blocking apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: an elevating part coupled to the shield and configured tolift or lower the shield; and a controller configured to operate theelevating part.
 6. The steam-blocking apparatus of claim 5, wherein theelevating part includes: a driving motor fixed to an external device; arotating gear connected to the driving motor and rotated using powerprovided from the driving motor; a rack gear engaged with the rotatinggear and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotating gear; and aconnection plate having one side coupled to the rack gear and the otherside coupled to the shield.
 7. The steam-blocking apparatus of claim 6,further comprising: a displacement sensor installed on the connectionplate and configured to sense a distance from the material, wherein thecontroller is configured to operate the driving motor based on thedistance from the material, measured using the displacement sensor.
 8. Asteam-blocking apparatus comprising: a rolling mill configured to roll amaterial; a transfer roller disposed at a rear side of the rolling milland configured to transfer the material from the rolling mill; adescaler disposed above the transfer roller and configured to spray washwater toward the transfer roller; a width-measuring part disposed at arear side of the descaler and configured to measure the width of thematerial; and a shield disposed between the descaler and thewidth-measuring part, and configured to suction air in thewidth-measuring part and spray the suctioned air toward the transferroller to block steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water,from being introduced into the width-measuring part.
 9. Thesteam-blocking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shield includes: a bodyfixed to an external device; and an air-curtain rotatably coupled to abottom of the body, configured to suction the air in the width-measuringpart and spray the suctioned air toward the transfer roller.
 10. Thesteam-blocking apparatus of claim 9, wherein the air-curtain includes: acase having an inlet formed at a side facing the width-measuring partand an outlet formed at a side facing the transfer roller; a fanrotatably installed within the case; and a fan motor disposed within thecase and configured to rotate the fan.
 11. The steam-blocking apparatusof claim 8, further comprising: an elevating part coupled to the shieldand configured to lift or lower the shield; and a controller configuredto operate the elevating part.
 12. The steam-blocking apparatus of claim11, wherein the elevating part includes: a driving motor fixed to anexternal device; a rotating gear connected to the driving motor androtated using power provided from the driving motor; a rack gear engagedwith the rotating gear and lifted or lowered by the rotation of therotating gear; and a connection plate having one side coupled to therack gear and the other side coupled to the shield.
 13. Thesteam-blocking apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a displacementsensor installed on the connection plate and configured to sense adistance from the material, wherein the controller is configured tooperate the driving motor based on the distance from the material,measured by the displacement sensor.
 14. The steam-blocking apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the shield includes: a body fixed to the connectionplate; and an air-curtain rotatably coupled to a bottom of the body andconfigured to suction air in the width-measuring part and spray thesuctioned air toward the transfer roller.